New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-29

rOr4I PFLIEP FOR UORKfNG WONEN.
Asscmhlvman Bacon ha, introduced an
amendment 10 tho Code, The purpose OF which
is TO put woI<ingwomcn on an equality with
woikingmcn in the recovery from employers
Of money due for wages. rs the law now
lands. female employers occupy different po-
sition from that Of male employers. PERHAPS
through an oversight their property Is not IL
aIlo under judgments and executions TO the
same extent rs that Of men. Experience proves
that his defect in the law has bcn utilized
IN the utmot. Why it is no one has hitherto
lccn allie TO determine, but the fact remains
that when women employ their own sex 'hey
often treat their employees not only unk'hu'y
and haishly but dlhOnCstly. They seem 10
recognize and play upon the ignorance ana
shyncss Of most women, TO rob them. MIS-
Campbell, in some of her articles has shawn
the Injustice done in this way. When the VIC
tins arc young girls the chances are remote
tlat the dishonest employer will DC called to
account. for they arc generally too baslful to
tand up for their rights. OF course the prob
ability Of their shrinking from recourse 20 the
law forms part Of the inducements TO cheat
them.
There is reason TO believe that this class OF
swindng Is far moro extensive than would bc
generally supposed and that, moreover certain
women employers possessing ample capital have
for years malc it part OF their regular bust
ness, coOlly reducing their expenses by robbing
Us many girls as possible Of the earnings of
their labor every week SO audacious
has long impunity rendered these industrial
sharpcIs that apparently they look upon their
rascally methods rs legitimate, and 50 well
known is the practice Of such thcfts that the
poor wOnIingwomcn have come TO regard them
almost as part and parcel Of the prevailing
order Of things. useless To kick against how
ever disagrccable. The facts being 90 IL ;s
certainly time that the State took the matter
in hand and devised protection for these moor
women who are utterly Helpless of them. ri vcs
IL is also desirable that some machinery should
te created TO supplement and extend tho iuris
diclion of the Womcn's Protective Assoca-
ton and similar voluntary and private or
CARNATIONS; for one Of the difficulties of the
situation now Is that the wrongcd womc, often
90 not know enough TO seek such means of
protection and relief as may 10 provided and
SO tho cheating employers reap the profit OF
their villany.
The attention Of the Legislature NAV also we'll
10 directed TO frequent source of aInsc no,,o-
~, the practice OF giving trial worl, 70 women
seeking employment, and refusing 10 nav any,
thing for it when it is done. on the prctcyt that
il is defective, or something of the kind Il
is not to be doubled that this easy method Of
getting work done for nothing has been IN the
past a fayorite with Certain class OF small
manufacu rrs. and it is even moro thnn noss;blc
that some Of the larger firms have occasionally
stopped 10 the raud. 1t is tempting ono, be-
cause it is so hard to prove the imposiion.
In fact it is impossible for the women who arc
swindlcd. But If there was q bureau of in.
spccion TO which all such disputes between
employed and employers could 10 referred tho
former would have a chance Of securing Justice.
Tins arrangement would also tend TO disarm